Picking amongst the Greek Islands is incredibly difficult! There are just so many of them, each with their own charms, and a barrage of internet opinions on which are best and which are best avoided. We decided to mix it up in the hope of getting a taste of all of the different reasons why we daydream about the Greek Islands when we are doing housework.
Kos
Beautiful Kos has all of the elements one could reasonably desire of a Greek Island – white buildings with blue edging, warm hearted and hospitable locals, white beaches that stretch for miles into the distance, some interesting ruins, a nightlife and some historical interest as the lifelong home of Hippocrates, the father of western medicine. It also has approximately 1 tourist per square metre. Still, who are we to complain about tourists?
Beaches, and MEAT
Patmos
Patmos was probably the loveliest island that we visited, although it is better known for its significance to Christians as supposedly God spoke to John the Apostle through a fissure in a cave there. It must have been an incredibly traumatic experience for poor John as he wrote the Book of Revelations in that same cave based on God’s words.
The cave was ethereal and the architecture, art work and Christian relics at the nearby St John’s monastery were gorgeous. Also there were quaint little towns with windy cobbled streets where you could happily get lost for hours and beautiful quiet beaches, some of which even had sand (surprisingly this important element is absent from most Turkish and Greek beaches).
Picking a hotel from the 20 people lining the wharf can be a hit or miss exercise... this time it was a score!
Heading up to the monastery, unfortunately the photography was very restricted so you will just have to imagine what St John's cave looks like...
Syros
Syros is the administrative centre of the Cyclades and for this reason is one of the most populated Greek Islands but it’s not a popular tourist destination (unless a tourist manages to get arrested anywhere in the Cyclades in which case they get an all expenses paid trip...). We stopped for a day, of our own free will, to see what island life is like for bureaucratic Greeks. It was definitely quiet, but the buildings and alleyways were quite beautiful, being traditional in style with artistic graffiti and colourful plant life popping out of every nook. And the food was spectacularrr!
Kos
Beautiful Kos has all of the elements one could reasonably desire of a Greek Island – white buildings with blue edging, warm hearted and hospitable locals, white beaches that stretch for miles into the distance, some interesting ruins, a nightlife and some historical interest as the lifelong home of Hippocrates, the father of western medicine. It also has approximately 1 tourist per square metre. Still, who are we to complain about tourists?
Beaches, and MEAT
Patmos
Patmos was probably the loveliest island that we visited, although it is better known for its significance to Christians as supposedly God spoke to John the Apostle through a fissure in a cave there. It must have been an incredibly traumatic experience for poor John as he wrote the Book of Revelations in that same cave based on God’s words.
The cave was ethereal and the architecture, art work and Christian relics at the nearby St John’s monastery were gorgeous. Also there were quaint little towns with windy cobbled streets where you could happily get lost for hours and beautiful quiet beaches, some of which even had sand (surprisingly this important element is absent from most Turkish and Greek beaches).
Picking a hotel from the 20 people lining the wharf can be a hit or miss exercise... this time it was a score!
Heading up to the monastery, unfortunately the photography was very restricted so you will just have to imagine what St John's cave looks like...
Syros
Syros is the administrative centre of the Cyclades and for this reason is one of the most populated Greek Islands but it’s not a popular tourist destination (unless a tourist manages to get arrested anywhere in the Cyclades in which case they get an all expenses paid trip...). We stopped for a day, of our own free will, to see what island life is like for bureaucratic Greeks. It was definitely quiet, but the buildings and alleyways were quite beautiful, being traditional in style with artistic graffiti and colourful plant life popping out of every nook. And the food was spectacularrr!
Where is that picture taken overlooking the harbour? Looks idyllic!! I can see my wife and I there! Hopefully ?
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